Just Back: Multigenerational South African Safari
A Trip of Firsts
By Darren Humphreys
When it comes to family travel—immediate and extended—it can be complicated. Our family is no exception and melding interests, a range of ages, and overall planning can be a challenge. Trust me when I say that safari is the ultimate family trip that can meet everyone’s needs—no compromises necessary (especially when planned by TS!).
Darren and I recently took our five-year-old son, Charlie, on safari in South Africa, along with Darren’s mother Miriam. Traveling with kids adds a new layer of consideration, but I am happy to report that the long journey was over before we knew it. Thanks to a combination of comfy travel clothes and sleep, a variety of snacks, and, of course, his favorite Disney movies—Charlie acted like a seasoned traveler!
To ease into a new shared experience, it helps that the safari camps TS hand-selects are the perfect marriage of remote wilderness and luxury. This includes chilled champagne, copper soaking tubs, and carefully sourced textiles—the attention to detail is unrivaled.
One of the highlights of safari for any age is the food—the benefits of being all-inclusive allow for personalized meals. This caters to dietary preferences, beverages crafted to your palate, and even the location, timing, and style of each meal is customized for your group. Charlie, being a picky eater, was delighted to have the opportunity to custom order his meals and snacks.
Personalization touches every aspect of safari life—anyone can swap out a game drive for a massage or simply take time to themselves to journal, take a catnap, or absorb their surroundings and disconnect. The same goes for children—Charlie, being energetic and curious, was thrilled to spend time at the kids club, swimming pool, and chasing monkeys (literally!). The ability to personalize every component of your stay is what allows for everyone’s needs to be met. This removes the burden of planning and scheduling activities, entertainment, and reservations.
Charlie became an expert tracker and sat in front with the ranger. His absolute favorite sighting was being ten feet away from a male lion roaring—the sound is magnificent. Since our return, Charlie’s new pension is to (accurately) correct my pronunciation of certain species and Afrikaans phrases. I challenge anyone to pronounce “wildebeest” as well as he does. He even presented his newfound knowledge about the animals he saw to his class—he was so proud!
At home, we get caught up in school, sports, and gatherings, but we realize that what Charlie missed while away is already forgotten. We know he will always remember his first safari, hands-on education, and how it changed his perspective. In summary—a family safari is a milestone trip just waiting to be taken.